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Is John Oliver's latest episode blocked in India for slamming Modi and BJP?

Is John Oliver's latest episode blocked in India for slamming Modi and BJP?

After Trump called Modi the father of India, Oliver unpacks why that's "stupid at best, and dangerous at worst”.
26 Feb, 2020

John Oliver is known for ruffling feathers and has done so again.

With Donald Trump making his trip to India to meet with PM Narendra Modi and calling him 'Father of India' — despite the title belonging to Gandhi — the talk show host started unpacking why giving Modi that title "is stupid at best, and dangerous at worst” in the latest episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which is now blocked by Hotstar.

The comedian wasn't afraid to call out Modi for his anti-Muslim positioning, his silence during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

"Within India, he is an increasingly controversial figure because his government has pursued a steadily escalating persecution of religious minorities. Persecution so intense, for the past two months, Indians across the country have taken to the streets in anger," said Oliver.

"Modi himself doesn't talk much about religious minorities but those closest to him are comfortable saying a lot. India is home to the second largest population of Muslims on earth and many members of the BJP are openly targeting them."

The 19-minute commentary has garnered over five million views on YouTube.

Not surprisingly, this hasn't gone down well in India; the episode has been banned by Disney-owned Hotstar, an on-demand streaming service that operates there with more than 300 million users.

Oliver is also receiving backlash by hyper-nationalists, who referred to his segment as a "horrendous conglomeration of misinformation."

Meanwhile, others are applauding the content and requesting it be uploaded on other platforms to be available to the public.

Comments

Ashraf Feb 26, 2020 03:35pm
J.O said lot of bad things about our country too. Lets not let him get away with that
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Parvez Feb 26, 2020 03:44pm
John Oliver was brilliant ....... he called it like it is.
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Md Feb 26, 2020 03:48pm
The RSS-BJP horde is fast unravelling the communal tissue of the Indian society and opening the doors to a general social strife.
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Rohit Feb 26, 2020 04:20pm
Just checked and it's still streaming
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SATT Feb 26, 2020 04:26pm
He mocking Trump not Modi.
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Ak18dar Feb 26, 2020 05:07pm
Not available on YouTube in UK
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SAEED KHAN Feb 26, 2020 05:07pm
MODI IS THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN OF THE SUBCONTINENT.HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDER OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS IN GUJRAT DURING HIS CHIEFMINISTER SHIP
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Morning Star Feb 26, 2020 05:14pm
Remember IK speech in United Nation’s. That is exactly what he talked about 6 months ago. Now whole world understands
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Salman Feb 26, 2020 05:48pm
He is on point here. But my fellow Pakistanis, will we be able to swallow what he said about Pakistan? India is headed down the wrong road for sure. But does that mean we have stopped using that road?
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Theepa Feb 26, 2020 05:53pm
Actually if trump had any sense and semblance regarding humanity, he would have cut short his visit and exited out of this so called secular india without any accords. This would have been a huge message to the rss hindus all over the world and their patrons around the globe.
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piyush Feb 26, 2020 06:12pm
RIP your knowledge.
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Kashmiri Feb 26, 2020 06:16pm
Excellent and correct depiction of RSS and its ideology.
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Truthhurts Feb 26, 2020 07:27pm
Usually Oliver is right on the money but this feature was poorly researched. Had facts wrong and had clips from media known for left bias. Silent majority show up at election booth and vote for Modi. They leave theatrics to vocal minority. It’s a shame Oliver chose to the vocal element only. Although I totally disagree with this episode, it should not have been pulled by hotstar.
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N_Saq Feb 26, 2020 07:28pm
I hope the Western world will quickly wake up to the Modi/BJP fascist regime before it is too late. IK needs to keep waking up the Western world by pointing/calling out the obvious of this Modi/BJP fascist regime.
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Bhaijan Feb 26, 2020 08:52pm
John Oliver has not done justice to reality of Modi past, particularly Gujarat he’s infamous for beginning premeditated riots & killings of Muslims. Modi was banned to enter USA, it was only after he won elections and choosen as PM , US allowed him, but that doesn’t implies he can carry on his tyranny in India, President Trump in his latest visit reminded Modi to take care of Christians, Muslims, being discriminated under Modi era.
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Justice Feb 26, 2020 08:54pm
I happened to watch it. John Oliver doesn't know many historical facts. His segment on Modi was filled with many inaccuracies. Don't take him seriously since he is a comedian.
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Masood, TX. Feb 26, 2020 09:05pm
John Oliver always hits the nail on the head and with a Stanley hammer. No chance of missing. Love it !
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AZAM AKBAR Feb 26, 2020 09:08pm
@Parvez Mr. Parvez, You are right.
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Munir Feb 26, 2020 09:13pm
Indian media and tweeters have gone mad, no different than Trump supporters in United States of Americaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. The majority of Modi supporters see him as an evangelist born to save Hiduvta ideology, almost in sink with the Trump supporters who see him as a savior of White nationalist movement. This is unbecoming of two largest so called democracies. Hope rationale majority prevails.
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Kris Feb 26, 2020 09:24pm
No, it's blocked for his ignorance :-) Jokes aside, it shouldn't have been blocked. Democratically elected leaders should have thicker skins for handling criticism.
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Lahori kid Feb 26, 2020 09:30pm
So much for freedom for the social media, and Indians point finger at Pakistan, in our politics(In India and Pakistan) there isn't much difference, a politician can stand before you and lie right thru you.
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Ibrahim S Feb 27, 2020 12:55am
whole world is a liar except Modi and RSS
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Ajo Feb 27, 2020 01:02am
It means freedom of speech is well protected in India
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imran Feb 27, 2020 01:44am
Thank you John Oliver for saying it like it is.
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T-man Feb 27, 2020 01:49am
He told the truth.
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Siddhartha Feb 27, 2020 02:25am
@Parvez , Anti-BJP Indians helped him to write story. He just read.
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Ahmad Feb 27, 2020 02:53am
Brave. I'm sure he knows the kind of pressure that will come his way with Indian money in the business. He has probably saved a lot of people with his show. Keep sharing the video!
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Indie Guy Feb 27, 2020 04:39am
I like John Oliver’s style of meaningful comedy. The problem is that in this case he has not viewed the overall situation in India as a longtime coming due to many factors. But if he is making opponents of Modi happy, good for him.
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TruthMatters Feb 27, 2020 04:54am
love John Oliver. He always calls it like it is. The best British export to the US, much better than that Hitchens guy, who was insufferably racist, pompous and ignorant, to say the least.
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Ashok Dey Feb 27, 2020 05:39am
John Oliver is an ill informed guy and will work on any paid agenda. Do not bother for his write-ups.
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ABG Feb 27, 2020 05:55am
Great work John Oliver.
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Ashutosh Feb 27, 2020 07:21am
No it isn't. I just saw the video and it sucks
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SamAdams Feb 27, 2020 08:20am
John Oliver does not get it. Trump2020 will be a reality. People are less stupid than he thinks. He may not do his research, but people do. He is not blocked in India, anyone can view his rants on youtube.
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Shubs Feb 27, 2020 09:44am
@Parvez Of course he did. You guys should check out comedians, film makers, authors, singers, actors, media personalities in India who have been doing this in India for decades, for every government that has been in power. Sometimes it's good to step out of Pakistani media and see how a REAL democracy functions.
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Zulfiqar Feb 27, 2020 09:46am
Absolutely brilliant and brutally honest. All the comedians who came out of the Tonight Show with Jon Stewart are brilliant political commentators and courageous human beings. Power to you sir!
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Jimmy. Feb 27, 2020 10:06am
John explained so well the truth of what is going on in India. It would be an eye opener for all Indians.
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Oscar Feb 27, 2020 10:07am
Great performance by John Oliver.
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ahsan Feb 27, 2020 11:51am
Great episode .A must see for everyone.
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Ramesh Feb 28, 2020 07:20am
Half baked series with minimum research and no class!
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